Managing service logistics

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, managing services performed on a vehicle can comprise receiving, at a service provider system and over a communications network, a request for maintenance of one or more vehicles. The request can be received from an on-board diagnostic system of the one or more vehicles or one or more servers of a third-party system. The service provider system can read a set of management rules, a set of service configuration information, and/or a set of user or vehicle specific maintenance and use information for the one or more vehicles from one or more databases. Logistics for the service can be determined based on applying the management rules and using the set of service configuration information and the set of user or vehicle specific maintenance and use information. Instructions related to the service can be provided to the one or more vehicles based on the determined logistics.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefits of and priority, under 35U.S.C. §119(e), to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 62/359,563,filed Jul. 7, 2016, entitled “Next Generation Vehicle”; and 62/378,348,filed Aug. 23, 2016, entitled “Next Generation Vehicle.” The entiredisclosures of the applications listed above are hereby incorporated byreference, in their entirety, for all that they teach and for allpurposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure is generally directed to vehicle systems, inparticular, toward electric and/or hybrid-electric vehicles.

BACKGROUND

In recent years, transportation methods have changed substantially. Thischange is due in part to a concern over the limited availability ofnatural resources, a proliferation in personal technology, and asocietal shift to adopt more environmentally friendly transportationsolutions. These considerations have encouraged the development of anumber of new flexible-fuel vehicles, hybrid-electric vehicles, andelectric vehicles.

While these vehicles appear to be new they are generally implemented asa number of traditional subsystems that are merely tied to analternative power source. In fact, the design and construction of thevehicles is limited to standard frame sizes, shapes, materials, andtransportation concepts. Among other things, these limitations fail totake advantage of the benefits of new technology, power sources, andsupport infrastructure.

SUMMARY

A provider or seller of a particular service offered to a user can setrules defining management and/or delivery of those services. Theprovider may be a repair facility, power charging station or facility, apower source exchange station or facility, or fleet manager and the usermay be a vehicle owner or operator. For example, a set of rules can beused to manage services related to use of a battery exchange facilityfor electric or hybrid vehicles may define the logistics for an exchangeof a low battery for a fully charged battery. The service provider can,in some cases, adjust selectable or configurable parameters used by therules to dynamically adjust the management of the service deliverymodel. In such cases, the terms or parameters may be varied depending onmonitoring and analysis of any number of such parameters. Additionallyor alternatively, the rules can consider certain conditions related to aparticular vehicle or user. Such conditions can influence application ofthe rules to provide individual vehicle or user specific management.Through application of such rules, a user can be directed to aparticular service type or service location based on monitoring andanalysis of selectable parameters, such as state of battery, fleetmanagement characteristics, a user profile, service provider and/orstation state and capabilities, etc. For example, a particular user witha certain battery type may be directed to a selected station forcharging or replacement of the battery as determined by an allocationcost function defined in the rules and based on a number of variables,e.g., minimal time to station, availability of a charging pad,compatibility of station with battery type, etc.

According to one embodiment, managing services performed on a vehiclecan comprise receiving, at a service provider system and over acommunications network, a request for maintenance of one or morevehicles. The request can be received by the service provider systemfrom an on-board diagnostic system on one of the one or more vehicles orone or more servers of a third-party service provider system. Theservice provider system can read a set of management rules, a set ofservice configuration information, and/or a set of user or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information for the one or more vehiclesfrom one or more databases. Logistics for the service performed on thevehicle can be determined based on applying the management rules andusing the set of service configuration information and the set of useror vehicle specific maintenance and use information. One or moreinstructions related to the service to be performed can be provided fromthe service provider system to the one or more vehicles over thecommunications network based on the determined logistics.

In some implementations, the set of management rules can comprise atleast one rule based on a location at which the service is delivered,the location selected from a plurality of locations. Additionally oralternatively, the set of management rules comprise at least one rulebased on one or more of a user profile, a vehicle profile, or serviceprovider or station capabilities. The set of service configurationinformation can comprise one or more dynamic parameters. For example,the one or more dynamic management parameters can relate to one or moreof a current demand for the service, a current availability of theservice, or one or more factors adjusting the price of the service. Insome implementations, the set of user or vehicle specific maintenanceand use information can comprise historical information related to useof the vehicle or the service. The service can comprise, for example, avehicle battery charging service, a vehicle repair service, or a vehiclepower source replacement service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the vehicle in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the vehicle in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the instrument panel of the vehicleaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an electrical system ofthe vehicle;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a power generation unitassociated with the electrical system of the vehicle;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of power storage associatedwith the electrical system of the vehicle;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment of loads associated with theelectrical system of the vehicle;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a communications subsystemof the vehicle;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a computing environment associated withthe embodiments presented herein;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a computing device associated with one ormore components described herein;

FIG. 12 shows a vehicle in an environment in accordance with embodimentsof the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating components of a system forapplying management rules to a service according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure; and

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for applyingmanagement rules to a service according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in connectionwith a vehicle, and in some embodiments, an electric vehicle,rechargeable electric vehicle, and/or hybrid-electric vehicle andassociated systems.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle 100 in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. The electric vehicle 100comprises a vehicle front 110, vehicle aft 120, vehicle roof 130, atleast one vehicle side 160, a vehicle undercarriage 140, and a vehicleinterior 150. In any event, the vehicle 100 may include a frame 104 andone or more body panels 108 mounted or affixed thereto. The vehicle 100may include one or more interior components (e.g., components inside aninterior space 150, or user space, of a vehicle 100, etc.), exteriorcomponents (e.g., components outside of the interior space 150, or userspace, of a vehicle 100, etc.), drive systems, controls systems,structural components, etc.

Although shown in the form of a car, it should be appreciated that thevehicle 100 described herein may include any conveyance or model of aconveyance, where the conveyance was designed for the purpose of movingone or more tangible objects, such as people, animals, cargo, and thelike. The term “vehicle” does not require that a conveyance moves or iscapable of movement. Typical vehicles may include but are in no waylimited to cars, trucks, motorcycles, busses, automobiles, trains,railed conveyances, boats, ships, marine conveyances, submarineconveyances, airplanes, space craft, flying machines, human-poweredconveyances, and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a plan view of a vehicle 100 will be describedin accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As providedabove, the vehicle 100 may comprise a number of electrical and/ormechanical systems, subsystems, etc. The mechanical systems of thevehicle 100 can include structural, power, safety, and communicationssubsystems, to name a few. While each subsystem may be describedseparately, it should be appreciated that the components of a particularsubsystem may be shared between one or more other subsystems of thevehicle 100.

The structural subsystem includes the frame 104 of the vehicle 100. Theframe 104 may comprise a separate frame and body construction (i.e.,body-on-frame construction), a unitary frame and body construction(i.e., a unibody construction), or any other construction defining thestructure of the vehicle 100. The frame 104 may be made from one or morematerials including, but in no way limited to steel, titanium, aluminum,carbon fiber, plastic, polymers, etc., and/or combinations thereof. Insome embodiments, the frame 104 may be formed, welded, fused, fastened,pressed, etc., combinations thereof, or otherwise shaped to define aphysical structure and strength of the vehicle 100. In any event, theframe 104 may comprise one or more surfaces, connections, protrusions,cavities, mounting points, tabs, slots, or other features that areconfigured to receive other components that make up the vehicle 100. Forexample, the body panels 108, powertrain subsystem, controls systems,interior components, communications subsystem, and safety subsystem mayinterconnect with, or attach to, the frame 104 of the vehicle 100.

The frame 104 may include one or more modular system and/or subsystemconnection mechanisms. These mechanisms may include features that areconfigured to provide a selectively interchangeable interface for one ormore of the systems and/or subsystems described herein. The mechanismsmay provide for a quick exchange, or swapping, of components whileproviding enhanced security and adaptability over conventionalmanufacturing or attachment. For instance, the ability to selectivelyinterchange systems and/or subsystems in the vehicle 100 allow thevehicle 100 to adapt to the ever-changing technological demands ofsociety and advances in safety. Among other things, the mechanisms mayprovide for the quick exchange of batteries, capacitors, power sources208A, 208B, motors 212, engines, safety equipment, controllers, userinterfaces, interiors exterior components, body panels 108, bumpers 216,sensors, etc., and/or combinations thereof. Additionally oralternatively, the mechanisms may provide unique security hardwareand/or software embedded therein that, among other things, can preventfraudulent or low quality construction replacements from being used inthe vehicle 100. Similarly, the mechanisms, subsystems, and/or receivingfeatures in the vehicle 100 may employ poka-yoke, or mistake-proofing,features that ensure a particular mechanism is always interconnectedwith the vehicle 100 in a correct position, function, etc.

By way of example, complete systems or subsystems may be removed and/orreplaced from a vehicle 100 utilizing a single-minute exchange (“SME”)principle. In some embodiments, the frame 104 may include slides,receptacles, cavities, protrusions, and/or a number of other featuresthat allow for quick exchange of system components. In one embodiment,the frame 104 may include tray or ledge features, mechanicalinterconnection features, locking mechanisms, retaining mechanisms,etc., and/or combinations thereof. In some embodiments, it may bebeneficial to quickly remove a used power source 208A, 208B (e.g.,battery unit, capacitor unit, etc.) from the vehicle 100 and replace theused power source 208A, 208B with a charged or new power source.Continuing this example, the power source 208A, 208B may includeselectively interchangeable features that interconnect with the frame104 or other portion of the vehicle 100. For instance, in a power source208A, 208B replacement, the quick release features may be configured torelease the power source 208A, 208B from an engaged position and slideor move in a direction away from the frame 104 of a vehicle 100. Onceremoved, or separated from, the vehicle, the power source 208A, 208B maybe replaced (e.g., with a new power source, a charged power source,etc.) by engaging the replacement power source into a system receivingposition adjacent to the vehicle 100. In some embodiments, the vehicle100 may include one or more actuators configured to position, lift,slide, or otherwise engage the replacement power source with the vehicle100. In one embodiment, the replacement power source may be insertedinto the vehicle 100 or vehicle frame 104 with mechanisms and/ormachines that are external and/or separate from the vehicle 100.

In some embodiments, the frame 104 may include one or more featuresconfigured to selectively interconnect with other vehicles and/orportions of vehicles. These selectively interconnecting features canallow for one or more vehicles to selectively couple together anddecouple for a variety of purposes. For example, it is an aspect of thepresent disclosure that a number of vehicles may be selectively coupledtogether to share energy, increase power output, provide security,decrease power consumption, provide towing services, and/or provide arange of other benefits. Continuing this example, the vehicles may becoupled together based on travel route, destination, preferences,settings, sensor information, and/or some other data. The coupling maybe initiated by at least one controller of the vehicle and/or trafficcontrol system upon determining that a coupling is beneficial to one ormore vehicles in a group of vehicles or a traffic system. As can beappreciated, the power consumption for a group of vehicles traveling ina same direction may be reduced or decreased by removing any aerodynamicseparation between vehicles. In this case, the vehicles may be coupledtogether to subject only the foremost vehicle in the coupling to airand/or wind resistance during travel. In one embodiment, the poweroutput by the group of vehicles may be proportionally or selectivelycontrolled to provide a specific output from each of the one or more ofthe vehicles in the group.

The interconnecting, or coupling, features may be configured aselectromagnetic mechanisms, mechanical couplings, electromechanicalcoupling mechanisms, etc., and/or combinations thereof. The features maybe selectively deployed from a portion of the frame 104 and/or body ofthe vehicle 100. In some cases, the features may be built into the frame104 and/or body of the vehicle 100. In any event, the features maydeploy from an unexposed position to an exposed position or may beconfigured to selectively engage/disengage without requiring an exposureor deployment of the mechanism from the frame 104 and/or body of thevehicle 100. In some embodiments, the interconnecting features may beconfigured to interconnect one or more of power, communications,electrical energy, fuel, and/or the like. One or more of the power,mechanical, and/or communications connections between vehicles may bepart of a single interconnection mechanism. In some embodiments, theinterconnection mechanism may include multiple connection mechanisms. Inany event, the single interconnection mechanism or the interconnectionmechanism may employ the poka-yoke features as described above.

The power system of the vehicle 100 may include the powertrain, powerdistribution system, accessory power system, and/or any other componentsthat store power, provide power, convert power, and/or distribute powerto one or more portions of the vehicle 100. The powertrain may includethe one or more electric motors 212 of the vehicle 100. The electricmotors 212 are configured to convert electrical energy provided by apower source into mechanical energy. This mechanical energy may be inthe form of a rotational or other output force that is configured topropel or otherwise provide a motive force for the vehicle 100.

In some embodiments, the vehicle 100 may include one or more drivewheels 220 that are driven by the one or more electric motors 212 andmotor controllers 214. In some cases, the vehicle 100 may include anelectric motor 212 configured to provide a driving force for each drivewheel 220. In other cases, a single electric motor 212 may be configuredto share an output force between two or more drive wheels 220 via one ormore power transmission components. It is an aspect of the presentdisclosure that the powertrain may include one or more powertransmission components, motor controllers 214, and/or power controllersthat can provide a controlled output of power to one or more of thedrive wheels 220 of the vehicle 100. The power transmission components,power controllers, or motor controllers 214 may be controlled by atleast one other vehicle controller or computer system as describedherein.

As provided above, the powertrain of the vehicle 100 may include one ormore power sources 208A, 208B. These one or more power sources 208A,208B may be configured to provide drive power, system and/or subsystempower, accessory power, etc. While described herein as a single powersource 208 for sake of clarity, embodiments of the present disclosureare not so limited. For example, it should be appreciated thatindependent, different, or separate power sources 208A, 208B may providepower to various systems of the vehicle 100. For instance, a drive powersource may be configured to provide the power for the one or moreelectric motors 212 of the vehicle 100, while a system power source maybe configured to provide the power for one or more other systems and/orsubsystems of the vehicle 100. Other power sources may include anaccessory power source, a backup power source, a critical system powersource, and/or other separate power sources. Separating the powersources 208A, 208B in this manner may provide a number of benefits overconventional vehicle systems. For example, separating the power sources208A, 208B allow one power source 208 to be removed and/or replacedindependently without requiring that power be removed from all systemsand/or subsystems of the vehicle 100 during a power source 208removal/replacement. For instance, one or more of the accessories,communications, safety equipment, and/or backup power systems, etc., maybe maintained even when a particular power source 208A, 208B isdepleted, removed, or becomes otherwise inoperable.

In some embodiments, the drive power source may be separated into two ormore cells, units, sources, and/or systems. By way of example, a vehicle100 may include a first drive power source 208A and a second drive powersource 208B. The first drive power source 208A may be operatedindependently from or in conjunction with the second drive power source208B and vice versa. Continuing this example, the first drive powersource 208A may be removed from a vehicle while a second drive powersource 208B can be maintained in the vehicle 100 to provide drive power.This approach allows the vehicle 100 to significantly reduce weight(e.g., of the first drive power source 208A, etc.) and improve powerconsumption, even if only for a temporary period of time. In some cases,a vehicle 100 running low on power may automatically determine thatpulling over to a rest area, emergency lane, and removing, or “droppingoff,” at least one power source 208A, 208B may reduce enough weight ofthe vehicle 100 to allow the vehicle 100 to navigate to the closestpower source replacement and/or charging area. In some embodiments, theremoved, or “dropped off,” power source 208A may be collected by acollection service, vehicle mechanic, tow truck, or even another vehicleor individual.

The power source 208 may include a GPS or other geographical locationsystem that may be configured to emit a location signal to one or morereceiving entities. For instance, the signal may be broadcast ortargeted to a specific receiving party. Additionally or alternatively,the power source 208 may include a unique identifier that may be used toassociate the power source 208 with a particular vehicle 100 or vehicleuser. This unique identifier may allow an efficient recovery of thepower source 208 dropped off. In some embodiments, the unique identifiermay provide information for the particular vehicle 100 or vehicle userto be billed or charged with a cost of recovery for the power source208.

The power source 208 may include a charge controller 224 that may beconfigured to determine charge levels of the power source 208, control arate at which charge is drawn from the power source 208, control a rateat which charge is added to the power source 208, and/or monitor ahealth of the power source 208 (e.g., one or more cells, portions,etc.). In some embodiments, the charge controller 224 or the powersource 208 may include a communication interface. The communicationinterface can allow the charge controller 224 to report a state of thepower source 208 to one or more other controllers of the vehicle 100 oreven communicate with a communication device separate and/or apart fromthe vehicle 100. Additionally or alternatively, the communicationinterface may be configured to receive instructions (e.g., controlinstructions, charge instructions, communication instructions, etc.)from one or more other controllers or computers of the vehicle 100 or acommunication device that is separate and/or apart from the vehicle 100.

The powertrain includes one or more power distribution systemsconfigured to transmit power from the power source 208 to one or moreelectric motors 212 in the vehicle 100. The power distribution systemmay include electrical interconnections 228 in the form of cables,wires, traces, wireless power transmission systems, etc., and/orcombinations thereof. It is an aspect of the present disclosure that thevehicle 100 include one or more redundant electrical interconnections232 of the power distribution system. The redundant electricalinterconnections 232 can allow power to be distributed to one or moresystems and/or subsystems of the vehicle 100 even in the event of afailure of an electrical interconnection portion of the vehicle 100(e.g., due to an accident, mishap, tampering, or other harm to aparticular electrical interconnection, etc.). In some embodiments, auser of a vehicle 100 may be alerted via a user interface associatedwith the vehicle 100 that a redundant electrical interconnection 232 isbeing used and/or damage has occurred to a particular area of thevehicle electrical system. In any event, the one or more redundantelectrical interconnections 232 may be configured along completelydifferent routes than the electrical interconnections 228 and/or includedifferent modes of failure than the electrical interconnections 228 to,among other things, prevent a total interruption power distribution inthe event of a failure.

In some embodiments, the power distribution system may include an energyrecovery system 236. This energy recovery system 236, or kinetic energyrecovery system, may be configured to recover energy produced by themovement of a vehicle 100. The recovered energy may be stored aselectrical and/or mechanical energy. For instance, as a vehicle 100travels or moves, a certain amount of energy is required to accelerate,maintain a speed, stop, or slow the vehicle 100. In any event, a movingvehicle has a certain amount of kinetic energy. When brakes are appliedin a typical moving vehicle, most of the kinetic energy of the vehicleis lost as the generation of heat in the braking mechanism. In an energyrecovery system 236, when a vehicle 100 brakes, at least a portion ofthe kinetic energy is converted into electrical and/or mechanical energyfor storage. Mechanical energy may be stored as mechanical movement(e.g., in a flywheel, etc.) and electrical energy may be stored inbatteries, capacitors, and/or some other electrical storage system. Insome embodiments, electrical energy recovered may be stored in the powersource 208. For example, the recovered electrical energy may be used tocharge the power source 208 of the vehicle 100.

The vehicle 100 may include one or more safety systems. Vehicle safetysystems can include a variety of mechanical and/or electrical componentsincluding, but in no way limited to, low impact or energy-absorbingbumpers 216A, 216B, crumple zones, reinforced body panels, reinforcedframe components, impact bars, power source containment zones, safetyglass, seatbelts, supplemental restraint systems, air bags, escapehatches, removable access panels, impact sensors, accelerometers, visionsystems, radar systems, etc., and/or the like. In some embodiments, theone or more of the safety components may include a safety sensor orgroup of safety sensors associated with the one or more of the safetycomponents. For example, a crumple zone may include one or more straingages, impact sensors, pressure transducers, etc. These sensors may beconfigured to detect or determine whether a portion of the vehicle 100has been subjected to a particular force, deformation, or other impact.Once detected, the information collected by the sensors may betransmitted or sent to one or more of a controller of the vehicle 100(e.g., a safety controller, vehicle controller, etc.) or a communicationdevice associated with the vehicle 100 (e.g., across a communicationnetwork, etc.).

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the vehicle 100 in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 3 shows abroken section 302 of a charging system 300 for the vehicle 100. Thecharging system 300 may include a plug or receptacle 304 configured toreceive power from an external power source (e.g., a source of powerthat is external to and/or separate from the vehicle 100, etc.). Anexample of an external power source may include the standard industrial,commercial, or residential power that is provided across power lines.Another example of an external power source may include a proprietarypower system configured to provide power to the vehicle 100. In anyevent, power received at the plug/receptacle 304 may be transferred viaat least one power transmission interconnection 308. Similar, if notidentical, to the electrical interconnections 228 described above, theat least one power transmission interconnection 308 may be one or morecables, wires, traces, wireless power transmission systems, etc., and/orcombinations thereof. Electrical energy in the form of charge can betransferred from the external power source to the charge controller 224.As provided above, the charge controller 224 may regulate the additionof charge to at least one power source 208 of the vehicle 100 (e.g.,until the at least one power source 208 is full or at a capacity, etc.).

In some embodiments, the vehicle 100 may include an inductive chargingsystem and inductive charger 312. The inductive charger 312 may beconfigured to receive electrical energy from an inductive power sourceexternal to the vehicle 100. In one embodiment, when the vehicle 100and/or the inductive charger 312 is positioned over an inductive powersource external to the vehicle 100, electrical energy can be transferredfrom the inductive power source to the vehicle 100. For example, theinductive charger 312 may receive the charge and transfer the charge viaat least one power transmission interconnection 308 to the chargecontroller 324 and/or the power source 208 of the vehicle 100. Theinductive charger 312 may be concealed in a portion of the vehicle 100(e.g., at least partially protected by the frame 104, one or more bodypanels 108, a shroud, a shield, a protective cover, etc., and/orcombinations thereof) and/or may be deployed from the vehicle 100. Insome embodiments, the inductive charger 312 may be configured to receivecharge only when the inductive charger 312 is deployed from the vehicle100. In other embodiments, the inductive charger 312 may be configuredto receive charge while concealed in the portion of the vehicle 100.

In addition to the mechanical components described herein, the vehicle100 may include a number of user interface devices. The user interfacedevices receive and translate human input into a mechanical movement orelectrical signal or stimulus. The human input may be one or more ofmotion (e.g., body movement, body part movement, in two-dimensional orthree-dimensional space, etc.), voice, touch, and/or physicalinteraction with the components of the vehicle 100. In some embodiments,the human input may be configured to control one or more functions ofthe vehicle 100 and/or systems of the vehicle 100 described herein. Userinterfaces may include, but are in no way limited to, at least onegraphical user interface of a display device, steering wheel ormechanism, transmission lever or button (e.g., including park, neutral,reverse, and/or drive positions, etc.), throttle control pedal ormechanism, brake control pedal or mechanism, power control switch,communications equipment, etc.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of the instrument panel 400 of the vehicle100. The instrument panel 400 of vehicle 100 comprises a steering wheel410, a vehicle operational display 420 (e.g., configured to presentand/or display driving data such as speed, measured air resistance,vehicle information, entertainment information, etc.), one or moreauxiliary displays 424 (e.g., configured to present and/or displayinformation segregated from the operational display 420, entertainmentapplications, movies, music, etc.), a heads-up display 434 (e.g.,configured to display any information previously described including,but in no way limited to, guidance information such as route todestination, or obstacle warning information to warn of a potentialcollision, or some or all primary vehicle operational data such asspeed, resistance, etc.), a power management display 428 (e.g.,configured to display data corresponding to electric power levels ofvehicle 100, reserve power, charging status, etc.), and an input device432 (e.g., a controller, touchscreen, or other interface deviceconfigured to interface with one or more displays in the instrumentpanel or components of the vehicle 100. The input device 432 may beconfigured as a joystick, mouse, touchpad, tablet, 3D gesture capturedevice, etc.). In some embodiments, the input device 432 may be used tomanually maneuver a portion of the vehicle 100 into a charging position(e.g., moving a charging plate to a desired separation distance, etc.).

While one or more of displays of instrument panel 400 may betouch-screen displays, it should be appreciated that the vehicleoperational display may be a display incapable of receiving touch input.For instance, the operational display 420 that spans across an interiorspace centerline 404 and across both a first zone 408A and a second zone408B may be isolated from receiving input from touch, especially from apassenger. In some cases, a display that provides vehicle operation orcritical systems information and interface may be restricted fromreceiving touch input and/or be configured as a non-touch display. Thistype of configuration can prevent dangerous mistakes in providing touchinput where such input may cause an accident or unwanted control.

In some embodiments, one or more displays of the instrument panel 400may be mobile devices and/or applications residing on a mobile devicesuch as a smart phone. Additionally or alternatively, any of theinformation described herein may be presented to one or more portions420A-N of the operational display 420 or other display 424, 428, 434. Inone embodiment, one or more displays of the instrument panel 400 may bephysically separated or detached from the instrument panel 400. In somecases, a detachable display may remain tethered to the instrument panel.

The portions 420A-N of the operational display 420 may be dynamicallyreconfigured and/or resized to suit any display of information asdescribed. Additionally or alternatively, the number of portions 420A-Nused to visually present information via the operational display 420 maybe dynamically increased or decreased as required, and are not limitedto the configurations shown.

An embodiment of the electrical system 500 associated with the vehicle100 may be as shown in FIG. 5. The electrical system 500 can includepower source(s) that generate power, power storage that stores power,and/or load(s) that consume power. Power sources may be associated witha power generation unit 504. Power storage may be associated with apower storage system 208. Loads may be associated with loads 508. Theelectrical system 500 may be managed by a power management controller224. Further, the electrical system 500 can include one or more otherinterfaces or controllers, which can include the billing and costcontrol unit 512.

The power generation unit 504 may be as described in conjunction withFIG. 6. The power storage component 208 may be as described inconjunction with FIG. 7. The loads 508 may be as described inconjunction with FIG. 8.

The billing and cost control unit 512 may interface with the powermanagement controller 224 to determine the amount of charge or powerprovided to the power storage 208 through the power generation unit 504.The billing and cost control unit 512 can then provide information forbilling the vehicle owner. Thus, the billing and cost control unit 512can receive and/or send power information to third party system(s)regarding the received charge from an external source. The informationprovided can help determine an amount of money required, from the ownerof the vehicle, as payment for the provided power. Alternatively, or inaddition, if the owner of the vehicle provided power to another vehicle(or another device/system), that owner may be owed compensation for theprovided power or energy, e.g., a credit.

The power management controller 224 can be a computer or computingsystem(s) and/or electrical system with associated components, asdescribed herein, capable of managing the power generation unit 504 toreceive power, routing the power to the power storage 208, and thenproviding the power from either the power generation unit 504 and/or thepower storage 208 to the loads 508. Thus, the power managementcontroller 224 may execute programming that controls switches, devices,components, etc. involved in the reception, storage, and provision ofthe power in the electrical system 500.

An embodiment of the power generation unit 504 may be as shown in FIG.6. Generally, the power generation unit 504 may be electrically coupledto one or more power sources 208. The power sources 208 can includepower sources internal and/or associated with the vehicle 100 and/orpower sources external to the vehicle 100 to which the vehicle 100electrically connects. One of the internal power sources can include anon board generator 604. The generator 604 may be an alternating current(AC) generator, a direct current (DC) generator or a self-excitedgenerator. The AC generators can include induction generators, linearelectric generators, and/or other types of generators. The DC generatorscan include homopolar generators and/or other types of generators. Thegenerator 604 can be brushless or include brush contacts and generatethe electric field with permanent magnets or through induction. Thegenerator 604 may be mechanically coupled to a source of kinetic energy,such as an axle or some other power take-off. The generator 604 may alsohave another mechanical coupling to an exterior source of kineticenergy, for example, a wind turbine.

Another power source 208 may include wired or wireless charging 608. Thewireless charging system 608 may include inductive and/or resonantfrequency inductive charging systems that can include coils, frequencygenerators, controllers, etc. Wired charging may be any kind ofgrid-connected charging that has a physical connection, although, thewireless charging may be grid connected through a wireless interface.The wired charging system can include connectors, wiredinterconnections, the controllers, etc. The wired and wireless chargingsystems 608 can provide power to the power generation unit 504 fromexternal power sources 208.

Internal sources for power may include a regenerative braking system612. The regenerative braking system 612 can convert the kinetic energyof the moving car into electrical energy through a generation systemmounted within the wheels, axle, and/or braking system of the vehicle100. The regenerative braking system 612 can include any coils, magnets,electrical interconnections, converters, controllers, etc. required toconvert the kinetic energy into electrical energy.

Another source of power 208, internal to or associated with the vehicle100, may be a solar array 616. The solar array 616 may include anysystem or device of one or more solar cells mounted on the exterior ofthe vehicle 100 or integrated within the body panels of the vehicle 100that provides or converts solar energy into electrical energy to provideto the power generation unit 504.

The power sources 208 may be connected to the power generation unit 504through an electrical interconnection 618. The electricalinterconnection 618 can include any wire, interface, bus, etc. betweenthe one or more power sources 208 and the power generation unit 504.

The power generation unit 504 can also include a power source interface620. The power source interface 620 can be any type of physical and/orelectrical interface used to receive the electrical energy from the oneor more power sources 208; thus, the power source interface 620 caninclude an electrical interface 624 that receives the electrical energyand a mechanical interface 628 which may include wires, connectors, orother types of devices or physical connections. The mechanical interface608 can also include a physical/electrical connection 634 to the powergeneration unit 504.

The electrical energy from the power source 208 can be processed throughthe power source interface 624 to an electric converter 632. Theelectric converter 632 may convert the characteristics of the power fromone of the power sources into a useable form that may be used either bythe power storage 208 or one or more loads 508 within the vehicle 100.The electrical converter 624 may include any electronics or electricaldevices and/or component that can change electrical characteristics,e.g., AC frequency, amplitude, phase, etc. associated with theelectrical energy provided by the power source 208. The convertedelectrical energy may then be provided to an optional conditioner 1638.The conditioner 1638 may include any electronics or electrical devicesand/or component that may further condition the converted electricalenergy by removing harmonics, noise, etc. from the electrical energy toprovide a more stable and effective form of power to the vehicle 100.

An embodiment of the power storage 208 may be as shown in FIG. 7. Thepower storage unit can include an electrical converter 632 b, one ormore batteries, one or more rechargeable batteries, one or morecapacitors, one or more accumulators, one or more supercapacitors, oneor more ultrabatteries, and/or superconducting magnetics 704, and/or acharge management unit 708. The converter 632 b may be the same orsimilar to the electrical converter 632 a shown in FIG. 6. The converter632 b may be a replacement for the electric converter 632 a shown inFIG. 6 and thus eliminate the need for the electrical converter 632 a asshown in FIG. 6. However, if the electrical converter 632 a is providedin the power generation unit 504, the converter 632 b, as shown in thepower storage unit 208, may be eliminated. The converter 632 b can alsobe redundant or different from the electrical converter 632 a shown inFIG. 6 and may provide a different form of energy to the battery and/orcapacitors 704. Thus, the converter 632 b can change the energycharacteristics specifically for the battery/capacitor 704.

The battery 704 can be any type of battery for storing electricalenergy, for example, a lithium ion battery, a lead acid battery, anickel cadmium battery, etc. Further, the battery 704 may includedifferent types of power storage systems, such as, ionic fluids or othertypes of fuel cell systems. The energy storage 704 may also include oneor more high-capacity capacitors 704. The capacitors 704 may be used forlong-term or short-term storage of electrical energy. The input into thebattery or capacitor 704 may be different from the output, and thus, thecapacitor 704 may be charged quickly but drain slowly. The functioningof the converter 632 and battery capacitor 704 may be monitored ormanaged by a charge management unit 708.

The charge management unit 708 can include any hardware (e.g., anyelectronics or electrical devices and/or components), software, orfirmware operable to adjust the operations of the converter 632 orbatteries/capacitors 704. The charge management unit 708 can receiveinputs or periodically monitor the converter 632 and/orbattery/capacitor 704 from this information; the charge management unit708 may then adjust settings or inputs into the converter 632 orbattery/capacitor 704 to control the operation of the power storagesystem 208.

An embodiment of one or more loads 508 associated with the vehicle 100may be as shown in FIG. 8. The loads 508 may include a bus or electricalinterconnection system 802, which provides electrical energy to one ormore different loads within the vehicle 100. The bus 802 can be anynumber of wires or interfaces used to connect the power generation unit504 and/or power storage 208 to the one or more loads 508. The converter632 c may be an interface from the power generation unit 504 or thepower storage 208 into the loads 508. The converter 632 c may be thesame or similar to electric converter 632 a as shown in FIG. 6. Similarto the discussion of the converter 632 b in FIG. 7, the converter 632 cmay be eliminated, if the electric converter 632 a, shown in FIG. 6, ispresent. However, the converter 632 c may further condition or changethe energy characteristics for the bus 802 for use by the loads 508. Theconverter 632 c may also provide electrical energy to electric motor804, which may power the vehicle 100.

The electric motor 804 can be any type of DC or AC electric motor. Theelectric motor may be a direct drive or induction motor using permanentmagnets and/or winding either on the stator or rotor. The electric motor804 may also be wireless or include brush contacts. The electric motor804 may be capable of providing a torque and enough kinetic energy tomove the vehicle 100 in traffic. In some embodiments, the electric motor804 may be similar, if not identical, to the electric motor 212described in conjunction with FIG. 2.

The different loads 508 may also include environmental loads 812, sensorloads 816, safety loads 820, user interaction loads 808, etc. Userinteraction loads 808 can be any energy used by user interfaces orsystems that interact with the driver and/or passenger(s) of the vehicle100. These loads 808 may include, for example, the heads up display 434,the dash display 420, 424, 428, the radio, user interfaces on the headunit, lights, radio, and/or other types of loads that provide or receiveinformation from the occupants of the vehicle 100. The environmentalloads 812 can be any loads used to control the environment within thevehicle 100. For example, the air conditioning or heating unit of thevehicle 100 can be environmental loads 812. Other environmental loadscan include lights, fans, and/or defrosting units, etc. that may controlthe environment within, and/or outside of, the vehicle 100. The sensorloads 816 can be any loads used by sensors, for example, air bagsensors, GPS, and other such sensors used to either manage or controlthe vehicle 100 and/or provide information or feedback to the vehicleoccupants. The safety loads 820 can include any safety equipment, forexample, seat belt alarms, airbags, headlights, blinkers, etc. that maybe used to manage the safety of the occupants of the vehicle 100. Theremay be more or fewer loads than those described herein, although theymay not be shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 illustrates a hardware diagram of communications componentry thatcan be optionally associated with the vehicle 100 in accordance withembodiments of the present disclosure.

The communications componentry can include one or more wired or wirelessdevices such as a transceiver(s) and/or modem that allows communicationsnot only between the various systems disclosed herein but also withother devices, such as devices on a network, and/or on a distributednetwork such as the Internet and/or in the cloud and/or with othervehicle(s).

The communications subsystem can also include inter- and intra-vehiclecommunications capabilities such as hotspot and/or access pointconnectivity for any one or more of the vehicle occupants and/orvehicle-to-vehicle communications.

Additionally, and while not specifically illustrated, the communicationssubsystem can include one or more communications links (that can bewired or wireless) and/or communications busses (managed by the busmanager 974), including one or more of CANbus, OBD-II, ARCINC 429,Byteflight, CAN (Controller Area Network), D2B (Domestic Digital Bus),FlexRay, DC-BUS, IDB-1394, IEBus, I2C, ISO 9141-1/-2, J1708, J1587,J1850, J1939, ISO 11783, Keyword Protocol 2000, LIN (Local InterconnectNetwork), MOST (Media Oriented Systems Transport), Multifunction VehicleBus, SMARTwireX, SPI, VAN (Vehicle Area Network), and the like or ingeneral any communications protocol and/or standard(s).

The various protocols and communications can be communicated one or moreof wirelessly and/or over transmission media such as single wire,twisted pair, fiber optic, IEEE 1394, MIL-STD-1553, MIL-STD-1773,power-line communication, or the like. (All of the above standards andprotocols are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety).

As discussed, the communications subsystem enables communicationsbetween any if the inter-vehicle systems and subsystems as well ascommunications with non-collocated resources, such as those reachableover a network such as the Internet.

The communications subsystem 900, in addition to well-known componentry(which has been omitted for clarity), includes interconnected elementsincluding one or more of: one or more antennas 904, aninterleaver/deinterleaver 908, an analog front end (AFE) 912,memory/storage/cache 916, controller/microprocessor 920, MAC circuitry922, modulator/demodulator 924, encoder/decoder 928, a plurality ofconnectivity managers 934-966, GPU 940, accelerator 944, amultiplexer/demultiplexer 952, transmitter 970, receiver 972 andwireless radio 978 components such as a Wi-Fi PHY/Bluetooth® module 980,a Wi-Fi/BT MAC module 984, transmitter 988 and receiver 992. The variouselements in the device 900 are connected by one or more links/busses 5(not shown, again for sake of clarity).

The device 400 can have one more antennas 904, for use in wirelesscommunications such as multi-input multi-output (MIMO) communications,multi-user multi-input multi-output (MU-MIMO) communications Bluetooth®,LTE, 4G, 5G, Near-Field Communication (NFC), etc., and in general forany type of wireless communications. The antenna(s) 904 can include, butare not limited to one or more of directional antennas, omnidirectionalantennas, monopoles, patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas,dipoles, and any other antenna(s) suitable for communicationtransmission/reception. In an exemplary embodiment,transmission/reception using MIMO may require particular antennaspacing. In another exemplary embodiment, MIMO transmission/receptioncan enable spatial diversity allowing for different channelcharacteristics at each of the antennas. In yet another embodiment, MIMOtransmission/reception can be used to distribute resources to multipleusers for example within the vehicle 100 and/or in another vehicle.

Antenna(s) 904 generally interact with the Analog Front End (AFE) 912,which is needed to enable the correct processing of the receivedmodulated signal and signal conditioning for a transmitted signal. TheAFE 912 can be functionally located between the antenna and a digitalbaseband system in order to convert the analog signal into a digitalsignal for processing and vice-versa.

The subsystem 900 can also include a controller/microprocessor 920 and amemory/storage/cache 916. The subsystem 900 can interact with thememory/storage/cache 916 which may store information and operationsnecessary for configuring and transmitting or receiving the informationdescribed herein. The memory/storage/cache 916 may also be used inconnection with the execution of application programming or instructionsby the controller/microprocessor 920, and for temporary or long termstorage of program instructions and/or data. As examples, thememory/storage/cache 920 may comprise a computer-readable device, RAM,ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, and/or other storage device(s) and media.

The controller/microprocessor 920 may comprise a general purposeprogrammable processor or controller for executing applicationprogramming or instructions related to the subsystem 900. Furthermore,the controller/microprocessor 920 can perform operations for configuringand transmitting/receiving information as described herein. Thecontroller/microprocessor 920 may include multiple processor cores,and/or implement multiple virtual processors. Optionally, thecontroller/microprocessor 920 may include multiple physical processors.By way of example, the controller/microprocessor 920 may comprise aspecially configured Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) orother integrated circuit, a digital signal processor(s), a controller, ahardwired electronic or logic circuit, a programmable logic device orgate array, a special purpose computer, or the like.

The subsystem 900 can further include a transmitter 970 and receiver 972which can transmit and receive signals, respectively, to and from otherdevices, subsystems and/or other destinations using the one or moreantennas 904 and/or links/busses. Included in the subsystem 900circuitry is the medium access control or MAC Circuitry 922. MACcircuitry 922 provides for controlling access to the wireless medium. Inan exemplary embodiment, the MAC circuitry 922 may be arranged tocontend for the wireless medium and configure frames or packets forcommunicating over the wired/wireless medium.

The subsystem 900 can also optionally contain a security module (notshown). This security module can contain information regarding but notlimited to, security parameters required to connect the device to one ormore other devices or other available network(s), and can include WEP orWPA/WPA-2 (optionally+AES and/or TKIP) security access keys, networkkeys, etc. The WEP security access key is a security password used byWi-Fi networks. Knowledge of this code can enable a wireless device toexchange information with an access point and/or another device. Theinformation exchange can occur through encoded messages with the WEPaccess code often being chosen by the network administrator. WPA is anadded security standard that is also used in conjunction with networkconnectivity with stronger encryption than WEP.

In some embodiments, the communications subsystem 900 also includes aGPU 940, an accelerator 944, a Wi-Fi/BT/BLE PHY module 980 and aWi-Fi/BT/BLE MAC module 984 and wireless transmitter 988 and receiver992. In some embodiments, the GPU 940 may be a graphics processing unit,or visual processing unit, comprising at least one circuit and/or chipthat manipulates and changes memory to accelerate the creation of imagesin a frame buffer for output to at least one display device. The GPU 940may include one or more of a display device connection port, printedcircuit board (PCB), a GPU chip, a metal-oxide-semiconductorfield-effect transistor (MOSFET), memory (e.g., single data raterandom-access memory (SDRAM), double data rate random-access memory(DDR) RAM, etc., and/or combinations thereof), a secondary processingchip (e.g., handling video out capabilities, processing, and/or otherfunctions in addition to the GPU chip, etc.), a capacitor, heatsink,temperature control or cooling fan, motherboard connection, shielding,and the like.

The various connectivity managers 934-966 (even) manage and/orcoordinate communications between the subsystem 900 and one or more ofthe systems disclosed herein and one or more other devices/systems. Theconnectivity managers include an emergency charging connectivity manager934, an aerial charging connectivity manager 938, a roadway chargingconnectivity manager 942, an overhead charging connectivity manager 946,a robotic charging connectivity manager 950, a static chargingconnectivity manager 954, a vehicle database connectivity manager 958, aremote operating system connectivity manager 962 and a sensorconnectivity manager 966.

The emergency charging connectivity manager 934 can coordinate not onlythe physical connectivity between the vehicle 100 and the emergencycharging device/vehicle, but can also communicate with one or more ofthe power management controller, one or more third parties andoptionally a billing system(s). As an example, the vehicle 100 canestablish communications with the emergency charging device/vehicle toone or more of coordinate interconnectivity between the two (e.g., byspatially aligning the charging receptacle on the vehicle with thecharger on the emergency charging vehicle) and optionally sharenavigation information. Once charging is complete, the amount of chargeprovided can be tracked and optionally forwarded to, for example, athird party for billing. In addition to being able to manageconnectivity for the exchange of power, the emergency chargingconnectivity manager 934 can also communicate information, such asbilling information to the emergency charging vehicle and/or a thirdparty. This billing information could be, for example, the owner of thevehicle, the driver/occupant(s) of the vehicle, company information, orin general any information usable to charge the appropriate entity forthe power received.

The aerial charging connectivity manager 938 can coordinate not only thephysical connectivity between the vehicle 100 and the aerial chargingdevice/vehicle, but can also communicate with one or more of the powermanagement controller, one or more third parties and optionally abilling system(s). As an example, the vehicle 100 can establishcommunications with the aerial charging device/vehicle to one or more ofcoordinate interconnectivity between the two (e.g., by spatiallyaligning the charging receptacle on the vehicle with the charger on theemergency charging vehicle) and optionally share navigation information.Once charging is complete, the amount of charge provided can be trackedand optionally forwarded to, for example, a third party for billing. Inaddition to being able to manage connectivity for the exchange of power,the aerial charging connectivity manager 938 can similarly communicateinformation, such as billing information to the aerial charging vehicleand/or a third party. This billing information could be, for example,the owner of the vehicle 100, the driver/occupant(s) of the vehicle 100,company information, or in general any information usable to charge theappropriate entity for the power received etc., as discussed.

The roadway charging connectivity manager 942 and overhead chargingconnectivity manager 946 can coordinate not only the physicalconnectivity between the vehicle 100 and the charging device/system, butcan also communicate with one or more of the power managementcontroller, one or more third parties and optionally a billingsystem(s). As one example, the vehicle 100 can request a charge from thecharging system when, for example, the vehicle 100 needs or is predictedto need power. As an example, the vehicle 100 can establishcommunications with the charging device/vehicle to one or more ofcoordinate interconnectivity between the two for charging and shareinformation for billing. Once charging is complete, the amount of chargeprovided can be tracked and optionally forwarded to, for example, athird party for billing. This billing information could be, for example,the owner of the vehicle 100, the driver/occupant(s) of the vehicle 100,company information, or in general any information usable to charge theappropriate entity for the power received etc., as discussed. The personresponsible for paying for the charge could also receive a copy of thebilling information as is customary. The robotic charging connectivitymanager 950 and static charging connectivity manager 954 can operate ina similar manner to that described herein.

The vehicle database connectivity manager 958 allows the subsystem toreceive and/or share information stored in the vehicle database. Thisinformation can be shared with other vehicle components/subsystemsand/or other entities, such as third parties and/or charging systems.The information can also be shared with one or more vehicle occupantdevices, such as an app (application) on a mobile device the driver usesto track information about the vehicle 100 and/or a dealer orservice/maintenance provider. In general any information stored in thevehicle database can optionally be shared with any one or more otherdevices optionally subject to any privacy or confidentiallyrestrictions.

The remote operating system connectivity manager 962 facilitatescommunications between the vehicle 100 and any one or more autonomousvehicle systems. These communications can include one or more ofnavigation information, vehicle information, other vehicle information,weather information, occupant information, or in general any informationrelated to the remote operation of the vehicle 100.

The sensor connectivity manager 966 facilitates communications betweenany one or more of the vehicle sensors and any one or more of the othervehicle systems. The sensor connectivity manager 966 can also facilitatecommunications between any one or more of the sensors and/or vehiclesystems and any other destination, such as a service company, app, or ingeneral to any destination where sensor data is needed.

In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, any of the communicationsdiscussed herein can be communicated via the conductor(s) used forcharging. One exemplary protocol usable for these communications isPower-line communication (PLC). PLC is a communication protocol thatuses electrical wiring to simultaneously carry both data, andAlternating Current (AC) electric power transmission or electric powerdistribution. It is also known as power-line carrier, power-line digitalsubscriber line (PDSL), mains communication, power-linetelecommunications, or power-line networking (PLN). For DC environmentsin vehicles PLC can be used in conjunction with CAN-bus, LIN-bus overpower line (DC-LIN) and DC-BUS.

The communications subsystem can also optionally manage one or moreidentifiers, such as an IP (internet protocol) address(es), associatedwith the vehicle and one or other system or subsystems or componentstherein. These identifiers can be used in conjunction with any one ormore of the connectivity managers as discussed herein.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a computing environment 1000 thatmay function as the servers, user computers, or other systems providedand described herein. The environment 1000 includes one or more usercomputers, or computing devices, such as a vehicle computing device1004, a communication device 1008, and/or more 1012. The computingdevices 1004, 1008, 1012 may include general purpose personal computers(including, merely by way of example, personal computers, and/or laptopcomputers running various versions of Microsoft Corp.'s Windows® and/orApple Corp.'s Macintosh® operating systems) and/or workstation computersrunning any of a variety of commercially-available UNIX® or UNIX-likeoperating systems. These computing devices 1004, 1008, 1012 may alsohave any of a variety of applications, including for example, databaseclient and/or server applications, and web browser applications.Alternatively, the computing devices 1004, 1008, 1012 may be any otherelectronic device, such as a thin-client computer, Internet-enabledmobile telephone, and/or personal digital assistant, capable ofcommunicating via a network 1010 and/or displaying and navigating webpages or other types of electronic documents. Although the exemplarycomputer environment 1000 is shown with two computing devices, anynumber of user computers or computing devices may be supported.

Environment 1000 further includes a network 1010. The network 1010 maycan be any type of network familiar to those skilled in the art that cansupport data communications using any of a variety ofcommercially-available protocols, including without limitation SIP,TCP/IP, SNA, IPX, AppleTalk, and the like. Merely by way of example, thenetwork 1010 maybe a local area network (“LAN”), such as an Ethernetnetwork, a Token-Ring network and/or the like; a wide-area network; avirtual network, including without limitation a virtual private network(“VPN”); the Internet; an intranet; an extranet; a public switchedtelephone network (“PSTN”); an infra-red network; a wireless network(e.g., a network operating under any of the IEEE 802.9 suite ofprotocols, the Bluetooth® protocol known in the art, and/or any otherwireless protocol); and/or any combination of these and/or othernetworks.

The system may also include one or more servers 1014, 1016. In thisexample, server 1014 is shown as a web server and server 1016 is shownas an application server. The web server 1014, which may be used toprocess requests for web pages or other electronic documents fromcomputing devices 1004, 1008, 1012. The web server 1014 can be runningan operating system including any of those discussed above, as well asany commercially-available server operating systems. The web server 1014can also run a variety of server applications, including SIP (SessionInitiation Protocol) servers, HTTP(s) servers, FTP servers, CGI servers,database servers, Java servers, and the like. In some instances, the webserver 1014 may publish operations available operations as one or moreweb services.

The environment 1000 may also include one or more file andor/application servers 1016, which can, in addition to an operatingsystem, include one or more applications accessible by a client runningon one or more of the computing devices 1004, 1008, 1012. The server(s)1016 and/or 1014 may be one or more general purpose computers capable ofexecuting programs or scripts in response to the computing devices 1004,1008, 1012. As one example, the server 1016, 1014 may execute one ormore web applications. The web application may be implemented as one ormore scripts or programs written in any programming language, such asJava™, C, C#®, or C++, and/or any scripting language, such as Perl,Python, or TCL, as well as combinations of any programming/scriptinglanguages. The application server(s) 1016 may also include databaseservers, including without limitation those commercially available fromOracle®, Microsoft®, Sybase®, IBM® and the like, which can processrequests from database clients running on a computing device 1004, 1008,1012.

The web pages created by the server 1014 and/or 1016 may be forwarded toa computing device 1004, 1008, 1012 via a web (file) server 1014, 1016.Similarly, the web server 1014 may be able to receive web page requests,web services invocations, and/or input data from a computing device1004, 1008, 1012 (e.g., a user computer, etc.) and can forward the webpage requests and/or input data to the web (application) server 1016. Infurther embodiments, the server 1016 may function as a file server.Although for ease of description, FIG. 10 illustrates a separate webserver 1014 and file/application server 1016, those skilled in the artwill recognize that the functions described with respect to servers1014, 1016 may be performed by a single server and/or a plurality ofspecialized servers, depending on implementation-specific needs andparameters. The computer systems 1004, 1008, 1012, web (file) server1014 and/or web (application) server 1016 may function as the system,devices, or components described in FIGS. 1-10.

The environment 1000 may also include a database 1018. The database 1018may reside in a variety of locations. By way of example, database 1018may reside on a storage medium local to (and/or resident in) one or moreof the computers 1004, 1008, 1012, 1014, 1016. Alternatively, it may beremote from any or all of the computers 1004, 1008, 1012, 1014, 1016,and in communication (e.g., via the network 1010) with one or more ofthese. The database 1018 may reside in a storage-area network (“SAN”)familiar to those skilled in the art. Similarly, any necessary files forperforming the functions attributed to the computers 1004, 1008, 1012,1014, 1016 may be stored locally on the respective computer and/orremotely, as appropriate. The database 1018 may be a relationaldatabase, such as Oracle 20i®, that is adapted to store, update, andretrieve data in response to SQL-formatted commands.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a computer system 1100 upon whichthe servers, user computers, computing devices, or other systems orcomponents described above may be deployed or executed. The computersystem 1100 is shown comprising hardware elements that may beelectrically coupled via a bus 1104. The hardware elements may includeone or more central processing units (CPUs) 1108; one or more inputdevices 1112 (e.g., a mouse, a keyboard, etc.); and one or more outputdevices 1116 (e.g., a display device, a printer, etc.). The computersystem 1100 may also include one or more storage devices 1120. By way ofexample, storage device(s) 1120 may be disk drives, optical storagedevices, solid-state storage devices such as a random access memory(“RAM”) and/or a read-only memory (“ROM”), which can be programmable,flash-updateable and/or the like.

The computer system 1100 may additionally include a computer-readablestorage media reader 1124; a communications system 1128 (e.g., a modem,a network card (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device,etc.); and working memory 1136, which may include RAM and ROM devices asdescribed above. The computer system 1100 may also include a processingacceleration unit 1132, which can include a DSP, a special-purposeprocessor, and/or the like.

The computer-readable storage media reader 1124 can further be connectedto a computer-readable storage medium, together (and, optionally, incombination with storage device(s) 1120) comprehensively representingremote, local, fixed, and/or removable storage devices plus storagemedia for temporarily and/or more permanently containingcomputer-readable information. The communications system 1128 may permitdata to be exchanged with a network and/or any other computer describedabove with respect to the computer environments described herein.Moreover, as disclosed herein, the term “storage medium” may representone or more devices for storing data, including read only memory (ROM),random access memory (RAM), magnetic RAM, core memory, magnetic diskstorage mediums, optical storage mediums, flash memory devices and/orother machine readable mediums for storing information.

The computer system 1100 may also comprise software elements, shown asbeing currently located within a working memory 1136, including anoperating system 1140 and/or other code 1144. It should be appreciatedthat alternate embodiments of a computer system 1100 may have numerousvariations from that described above. For example, customized hardwaremight also be used and/or particular elements might be implemented inhardware, software (including portable software, such as applets), orboth. Further, connection to other computing devices such as networkinput/output devices may be employed.

Examples of the processors 1108 as described herein may include, but arenot limited to, at least one of Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 800 and 801,Qualcomm® Snapdragon® 620 and 615 with 4G LTE Integration and 64-bitcomputing, Apple® A7 processor with 64-bit architecture, Apple® M7motion coprocessors, Samsung® Exynos® series, the Intel® Core™ family ofprocessors, the Intel® Xeon® family of processors, the Intel® Atom™family of processors, the Intel Itanium® family of processors, Intel®Core® i5-4670K and i7-4770K 22 nm Haswell, Intel® Core® i5-3570K 22 nmIvy Bridge, the AMD® FX™ family of processors, AMD® FX-4300, FX-6300,and FX-8350 32nm Vishera, AMD® Kaveri processors, Texas Instruments®Jacinto C6000™ automotive infotainment processors, Texas Instruments®OMAP™ automotive-grade mobile processors, ARM® Cortex™-M processors,ARM® Cortex-A and ARM926EJ-S™ processors, other industry-equivalentprocessors, and may perform computational functions using any known orfuture-developed standard, instruction set, libraries, and/orarchitecture.

Referring to FIG. 12, the vehicle 100 is shown in a plurality ofoperational and/or charging environments. The vehicle 100 may operate inany one or more of the depicted environments in any combination. Otherembodiments are possible but may not be depicted in FIG. 12. Generally,the vehicle 100 may operate in environments which enable charging of thevehicle 100 and/or operation of the vehicle 100. More specifically, thevehicle 100 may receive a charge, battery exchange, or other service viaone or more means comprising emergency charging vehicle system 1270,aerial vehicle charging system 1280, roadway system 1250, roboticcharging system 1254, and/or overhead charging system 1258. The vehicle100 may interact and/or operate in an environment comprising one or moreother roadway vehicles 1260. The vehicle 100 may engage with elementswithin the vehicle 100 comprising vehicle driver 1220, vehiclepassengers 1230, and/or a vehicle database 1210. In one embodiment,vehicle database 1210 may not physically reside in the vehicle 100 andmay instead be accessed remotely (e.g., by wireless communication,etc.), and as such, may reside in another location such as a residenceor business location. The vehicle 100 may operate autonomously and/orsemi-autonomously in an autonomous environment 1290 (here, depicted as aroadway environment presenting a roadway obstacle 1294 of which thevehicle 100 autonomously identifies and steers the vehicle 100 clear ofthe obstacle 1294). Furthermore, the vehicle 100 may engage with aremote operator system 1240, which may provide fleet managementinstructions or control including, but not limited to, management ofcharging or other services provided to one or more vehicles 100 in afleet of vehicles.

In some embodiments, the vehicle 100 may be configured to receive chargevia one or more compatible vehicle charging interfaces, such as one ormore charging panels and/or interconnections. These compatible vehiclecharging interfaces may be configured at one or more locations on, in,or about a vehicle 100. For instance, the locations may includelocations on the vehicle 100 wherein charging may be received, via avehicle roof 130, vehicle side 160 and vehicle lower or undercarriage140.

According to one embodiment, remote operator system 1240 may applyservice management rules to manage or influence services provided to orinteractions with the vehicle 100. For example, the remote operatorsystem 1240 may apply service management rules defining conditions foruse of the robotic charging system 1254, battery exchange facility, orother service facility. The remote operator system 1240 can, in somecases, adjust selectable or configurable parameters used by the rules todynamically adjust the management of the service delivery model. In suchcases, the terms or parameters may be varied depending on monitoring andanalysis of any number of such parameters. Additionally oralternatively, the rules can consider certain conditions related to aparticular vehicle 100 or user 1220. Such conditions can influenceapplication of the rules to provide individual vehicle 100 or user 1220specific management. Through application of such rules, a vehicle 100can be directed to a particular service type or service location basedon monitoring and analysis of selectable parameters, such as state ofbattery, fleet management characteristics, a user profile, serviceprovider and/or station state and capabilities, etc. For example, aparticular vehicle with a certain battery type may be directed to aselected station for charging or replacement of the battery asdetermined by an allocation cost function defined in the rules and basedon a number of variables, e.g., minimal time to station, availability ofa charging pad, compatibility of station with battery type, etc.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating components of a system forapplying management rules to a service according to one embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As illustrated in this example, a serviceprovider's system 1300 can comprise a configuration and/oradministration component 1305, one or more repositories of rules andinformation including but not limited to a repository of maintenancemanagement rules 1310, a repository of configuration parameters 1315,and a repository of vehicle and/or user specific information 1320. Theservice provider's system 1300 can further comprise a data collectioncomponent 1325, a logistics determination component 1330, a repositoryof service instructions 1335, and a communication component 1340.

Generally speaking, a service provider can, for example using agraphical or other user interface provided by the configuration and/oradministration component 1305, define a set of rules saved in therepository of maintenance management rules 1310 and/or a set ofconfiguration parameters saved in the repository of configurationparameters 1315. In some cases, the service provider may also be able,through the configuration and/or administration component 1305, define,modify, or view a set of vehicle or user information saved in therepository of vehicle and/or user specific information 1320.Additionally or alternatively, the data collection component 1325 cancollect vehicle and/or user information from the vehicle, e.g., from anon-board diagnostic system, telemetric system, vehicle management systemand/or other computer system within the vehicle, from one or moreelements interacting with the vehicle, from the user via the vehicle, amobile device, a laptop or other computer system, or through other meansand save the collected information in the vehicle and/or user specificinformation 1320. The logistics determination component 1330 can applythe rules of the repository of maintenance management rules 1310 usingthe set of configuration parameters saved in the repository ofconfiguration parameters 1315 and the vehicle or user information savedin the repository of vehicle and/or user specific information 1320 todetermine or generate instructions related to a service available fromthe service provider to the vehicle. These instructions, e.g., where togo, when to go there, what service to receive, etc., can be saved in therepository of service instructions 1335 for access by the serviceprovider, the vehicle, the user, other service providers, etc.Additionally or alternatively, the instructions can be sent by thecommunication component 1340 to the vehicle or other system, forexample, via a cellular or other wireless connection.

More specifically, the service provider or seller of a particularservice can set rules for managing the services provided by configuring,through the configuration and/or administration component 1305, businessrules defining how logistics for delivering those services will beresolved. The set of rules can be implemented in any common ruledefinition language such as, for example, Business Process ExecutionLanguage (BPEL) or similar language, and can comprise a set ofconditions and associated actions to be applied upon satisfaction ofthose conditions. The actions can, in some cases, be calculations orother operations to determine a cost for the service. For example, abusiness rule for a battery charging or exchange facility for electricor hybrid vehicles may define conditions for determining a relative costbetween two or more locations where a requested service is available toinstruct and/or direct the vehicle to the lowest cost option. This costmay be determined based on price or any number of other factorsincluding but not necessarily limited to convenience to the user,proximity to the user, types of services available, delay or time neededto complete the requested service, etc. Therefore, the set ofmaintenance management rules defined through the configuration and/oradministration component 1305 and stored in the repository ofmaintenance management rules 1310 can comprise at least one ruledefining a value for the service based on a location at which theservice is delivered. The location can be selected from a plurality ofdifferent and geographically diverse locations. Any number and varietyof other rules can be implemented at the service provider's discretionand are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

The service provider can, for example, through the graphical or otheruser interface of the configuration and/or administration component1305, define and/or adjust selectable or configurable parameters storedin the repository of configuration parameters 1315 to be used by themanagement rules in order to determine logistics for a requestedservice. These parameters can comprise, for example, values forvariables defined in the calculations or actions of the rules. In othercases, the parameters can comprise switches, flags, or other values forthe conditions of the rules. The terms or parameters stored in therepository of configuration parameters 1315 may be varied by the serviceprovider through the configuration and/or administration component 1305depending on, for example, local demand, to apply during periodic ortemporary high-demand periods. For example, if a certain facility isexperiencing high demand, this facility may be considered to be morecostly or less preferred than other options. Any number and variety ofother parameters can be implemented in different ways at the serviceprovider's discretion and are considered to be within the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The repository of vehicle or user specific information 1320 can compriseinformation for one or more vehicles defined by the service providerthrough the configuration and/or administration component. Additionallyor alternatively, this information may be collected from the vehicle,the user, other service providers, other elements interacting with thevehicle etc. through the data collection component interfacing withthose elements. The information stored in the repository of vehicle oruser specific information 1320 can comprise values for variables definedin the calculations or actions of the rules. In other cases, theinformation can comprise switches, flags, or other values for theconditions of the rules. For example, user specific information maydefine a user profile of preferences for services. Such preferences mayindicate that a user places a high value on quick service without delay.In other cases, a user preference may indicate a greater importance orweight placed on nearness or proximity of the service. Such informationcan be used to influence the selection of services and instructionsgenerated by the logistics determination component 2130, for example, byweighting different options to indicate a relative cost based on theuser preferences. Vehicle specific information may indicate a type ofequipment, e.g., a battery type, age and/or condition of that equipment,a partial or complete service history or a variety of other information.The vehicle specific information can also be used when the rules areapplied in order to select or determine a service facility and/or otherlogistics.

The logistics determination component 1330 can then determine logisticsof the available service options and generate one or more instructionsto the vehicle based on applying the maintenance management rules storedin the repository maintenance management rules 1310 and using the set ofservice configuration parameters stored in the repository ofconfiguration parameters 1315 and the set of user or vehicle specificmaintenance and use information stored in the repository of vehicle oruser information 1320. That is, once the variables of the rules arepopulated with the values defined in the service configurationparameters and/or the vehicle or user specific information, the rulescan be executed by the logistics determination component 1330 and theactions defined for the rules can be performed by the logisticsdetermination component 1330 based on the populated conditions. Theseactions can select and/or rank available service options and generateinstructions to the vehicle to direct the vehicle to a preferred option.

The service instructions can then be provided to the one or morevehicles. For example, the service instructions may be saved by thelogistics determination component 1330 in the repository of serviceinstructions 1335 which can be accessible by the vehicle, by the userthrough other means such as a mobile device or computer, by otherservice providers, or by other elements interacting with the vehicle.Additionally or alternatively, the service instructions may betransmitted by the communication component 1340 over a cellular or otherwireless connection to the vehicle, user, other service provider orelement, etc. Once received by the vehicle, this information may bepresented to the user or driver of the vehicle, e.g., via a heads up orother display within the vehicle.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process for applyingmanagement rules to a service according to one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. As illustrated in this example, managing maintenanceservices performed on a vehicle can comprise receiving 1402, at theservice provider system and over a communications network, a request formaintenance of one or more vehicles. The request can be received 1402 bythe service provider system from an on-board diagnostic system on one ofthe one or more vehicles or one or more servers of a third-party serviceprovider system. A set of maintenance management rules can be read 1405.The service can comprise a vehicle battery charging service, a vehiclerepair service, or a vehicle power source replacement service. Generallyspeaking, the set of maintenance management rules can comprise a set ofconditions and associated actions to be applied upon satisfaction ofthose conditions. The actions can, in some cases, be calculations orother operations to determine the relative cost for the service betweendifferent available service location and other logisticalconsiderations.

A set of service configuration parameters can also be read 1410. Theservice configuration parameters can be set by the service provider toinfluence or adjust the logistical factors of the calculations or otheractions performed by the value determination of pricing rules. In somecases, these parameters can comprise values for variables defined in thecalculations or actions of the rules. In other cases, the parameters cancomprise switches, flags, or other values for the conditions of therules. For example, the set of service configuration informationcomprises one or more dynamic parameters. The one or more dynamicpricing parameters relate to one or more of a current demand for theservice, a current availability of the service, or one or more factorsadjusting the cost and/or other logistical considerations of providingthe service. Any number and variety of other parameters can beimplemented at the service provider's discretion and are considered tobe within the scope of the present disclosure.

A set of user or vehicle specific maintenance and use information forone or more vehicles can also be read 1415. Such information caninfluence application of the rules to provide individual vehicle or userspecific logistical considerations. In some cases, this information cancomprise values for variables defined in the calculations or actions ofthe rules. In other cases, the information can comprise switches, flags,or other values for the conditions of the rules. For example, the set ofuser or vehicle specific maintenance and use information can comprise auser profile of preferences. In another example, the set of user orvehicle specific maintenance and use information can compriseinformation indicating a type of equipment, e.g., a battery type, ageand/or condition of that equipment, a partial or complete servicehistory or a variety of other information.

Logistics for the service performed on the vehicle can be determined1420 based on applying the maintenance management rules and using theset of service configuration information and the set of user or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information. That is, once the variables ofthe rules are populated with the values defined in the serviceconfiguration parameters and/or the vehicle or user specificinformation, the rules can be executed and the actions defined for therules can be performed based on the populated conditions.

Instruction based on the determined logistics can then be provided 1425to the one or more vehicles. For example, the instructions may betransmitted over a cellular or other wireless connection to one or morevehicles, e.g., in response to a specific query from those one or morevehicles. Once received, this information may be presented to the useror driver of the vehicle, e.g., via a heads up or other display withinthe vehicle.

Any of the steps, functions, and operations discussed herein can beperformed continuously and automatically.

The exemplary systems and methods of this disclosure have been describedin relation to vehicle systems and electric vehicles. However, to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure, the precedingdescription omits a number of known structures and devices. Thisomission is not to be construed as a limitation of the scope of theclaimed disclosure. Specific details are set forth to provide anunderstanding of the present disclosure. It should, however, beappreciated that the present disclosure may be practiced in a variety ofways beyond the specific detail set forth herein.

Furthermore, while the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein show thevarious components of the system collocated, certain components of thesystem can be located remotely, at distant portions of a distributednetwork, such as a LAN and/or the Internet, or within a dedicatedsystem. Thus, it should be appreciated, that the components of thesystem can be combined into one or more devices, such as a server,communication device, or collocated on a particular node of adistributed network, such as an analog and/or digital telecommunicationsnetwork, a packet-switched network, or a circuit-switched network. Itwill be appreciated from the preceding description, and for reasons ofcomputational efficiency, that the components of the system can bearranged at any location within a distributed network of componentswithout affecting the operation of the system.

Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the various links connectingthe elements can be wired or wireless links, or any combination thereof,or any other known or later developed element(s) that is capable ofsupplying and/or communicating data to and from the connected elements.These wired or wireless links can also be secure links and may becapable of communicating encrypted information. Transmission media usedas links, for example, can be any suitable carrier for electricalsignals, including coaxial cables, copper wire, and fiber optics, andmay take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generatedduring radio-wave and infra-red data communications.

While the flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated in relation toa particular sequence of events, it should be appreciated that changes,additions, and omissions to this sequence can occur without materiallyaffecting the operation of the disclosed embodiments, configuration, andaspects.

A number of variations and modifications of the disclosure can be used.It would be possible to provide for some features of the disclosurewithout providing others.

In yet another embodiment, the systems and methods of this disclosurecan be implemented in conjunction with a special purpose computer, aprogrammed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integratedcircuit element(s), an ASIC or other integrated circuit, a digitalsignal processor, a hard-wired electronic or logic circuit such asdiscrete element circuit, a programmable logic device or gate array suchas PLD, PLA, FPGA, PAL, special purpose computer, any comparable means,or the like. In general, any device(s) or means capable of implementingthe methodology illustrated herein can be used to implement the variousaspects of this disclosure. Exemplary hardware that can be used for thepresent disclosure includes computers, handheld devices, telephones(e.g., cellular, Internet enabled, digital, analog, hybrids, andothers), and other hardware known in the art. Some of these devicesinclude processors (e.g., a single or multiple microprocessors), memory,nonvolatile storage, input devices, and output devices. Furthermore,alternative software implementations including, but not limited to,distributed processing or component/object distributed processing,parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also beconstructed to implement the methods described herein.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be readilyimplemented in conjunction with software using object or object-orientedsoftware development environments that provide portable source code thatcan be used on a variety of computer or workstation platforms.Alternatively, the disclosed system may be implemented partially orfully in hardware using standard logic circuits or VLSI design. Whethersoftware or hardware is used to implement the systems in accordance withthis disclosure is dependent on the speed and/or efficiency requirementsof the system, the particular function, and the particular software orhardware systems or microprocessor or microcomputer systems beingutilized.

In yet another embodiment, the disclosed methods may be partiallyimplemented in software that can be stored on a storage medium, executedon programmed general-purpose computer with the cooperation of acontroller and memory, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, orthe like. In these instances, the systems and methods of this disclosurecan be implemented as a program embedded on a personal computer such asan applet, JAVA® or CGI script, as a resource residing on a server orcomputer workstation, as a routine embedded in a dedicated measurementsystem, system component, or the like. The system can also beimplemented by physically incorporating the system and/or method into asoftware and/or hardware system.

Although the present disclosure describes components and functionsimplemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standardsand protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards andprotocols. Other similar standards and protocols not mentioned hereinare in existence and are considered to be included in the presentdisclosure. Moreover, the standards and protocols mentioned herein andother similar standards and protocols not mentioned herein areperiodically superseded by faster or more effective equivalents havingessentially the same functions. Such replacement standards and protocolshaving the same functions are considered equivalents included in thepresent disclosure.

The present disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations, andaspects, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/orapparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, includingvarious embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those ofskill in the art will understand how to make and use the systems andmethods disclosed herein after understanding the present disclosure. Thepresent disclosure, in various embodiments, configurations, and aspects,includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items notdepicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments,configurations, or aspects hereof, including in the absence of suchitems as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., forimproving performance, achieving ease, and/or reducing cost ofimplementation.

The foregoing discussion of the disclosure has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intendedto limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In theforegoing Detailed Description for example, various features of thedisclosure are grouped together in one or more embodiments,configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspectsof the disclosure may be combined in alternate embodiments,configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This methodof disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention thatthe claimed disclosure requires more features than are expressly recitedin each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventiveaspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosedembodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims arehereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claimstanding on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of thedisclosure.

Moreover, though the description of the disclosure has includeddescription of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects andcertain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations,and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as maybe within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, afterunderstanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights,which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to theextent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalentstructures, functions, ranges, or steps to those claimed, whether or notsuch alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions,ranges, or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publiclydedicate any patentable subject matter.

Embodiments include a method for managing services performed on avehicle, the method comprising: receiving, at a service provider systemand over a communications network, a request for maintenance of one ormore vehicles, the request received by the service provider system froman on-board diagnostic system on one of the one or more vehicles or oneor more servers of a third-party service provider system; reading, bythe service provider system, a set of management rules from one or moredatabases; reading, by the service provider system, a set of serviceconfiguration information from one or more databases; reading, by theservice provider system, a set of user or vehicle specific maintenanceand use information for the one or more vehicles from one or moredatabases; determining, by the service provider system, logistics forthe service performed on the vehicle based on applying the managementrules and using the set of service configuration information and the setof user or vehicle specific maintenance and use information; andproviding, from the service provider system to the one or more vehiclesover the communications network, one or more instructions related to theservice to be performed based on the determined logistics.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the set of management rulescomprise at least one rule based on a location at which the service isdelivered, the location selected from a plurality of locations.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the set of management rulescomprise at least one rule based on one or more of a user profile, avehicle profile, or service provider or station capabilities.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the set of serviceconfiguration information comprises one or more dynamic parameters.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the one or more dynamicmanagement parameters relate to one or more of a current demand for theservice, a current availability of the service, or one or more factorsadjusting the price of the service.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the set of user or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information comprises historicalinformation related to use of the vehicle or the service.

Aspects of the above method include wherein the service comprises avehicle battery charging service, a vehicle repair service, or a vehiclepower source replacement service.

Embodiments include a system comprising: a processor; and a memorycoupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set ofinstructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto manage services performed on a vehicle by: receiving, over acommunications network, a request for maintenance of one or morevehicles, the request received by the service provider system from anon-board diagnostic system on one of the one or more vehicles or one ormore servers of a third-party service provider system; reading a set ofmanagement rules from one or more databases; reading a set of serviceconfiguration information from one or more databases; reading a set ofuser or vehicle specific maintenance and use information for the one ormore vehicles from one or more databases; determining logistics for theservice performed on the vehicle based on applying the management rulesand using the set of service configuration information and the set ofuser or vehicle specific maintenance and use information; and providing,to the one or more vehicles over the communications network, one or moreinstructions related to the service to be performed based on thedetermined logistics.

Aspects of the above system include wherein the set of management rulescomprise at least one rule based on a location at which the service isdelivered, the location selected from a plurality of locations.

Aspects of the above system include wherein the set of management rulescomprise at least one rule based on one or more of a user profile, avehicle profile, or service provider or station capabilities.

Aspects of the above system include wherein the set of serviceconfiguration information comprises one or more dynamic parameters.

Aspects of the above system include wherein the one or more dynamicmanagement parameters relate to one or more of a current demand for theservice, a current availability of the service, or one or more factorsadjusting the price of the service.

Aspects of the above system include wherein the set of user or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information comprises historicalinformation related to use of the vehicle or the service.

Aspects of the above system include wherein the service comprises avehicle battery charging service, a vehicle repair service, or a vehiclepower source replacement service.

Embodiments include a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprisinga set of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to manage services performed on a vehicleby: receiving, over a communications network, a request for maintenanceof one or more vehicles, the request received by the service providersystem from an on-board diagnostic system on one of the one or morevehicles or one or more servers of a third-party service providersystem; reading a set of management rules from one or more databases;reading a set of service configuration information from one or moredatabases; reading a set of user or vehicle specific maintenance and useinformation for the one or more vehicles from one or more databases;determining logistics for the service performed on the vehicle based onapplying the management rules and using the set of service configurationinformation and the set of user or vehicle specific maintenance and useinformation; and providing, to the one or more vehicles over thecommunications network, one or more instructions related to the serviceto be performed based on the determined logistics.

Aspects of the medium include wherein the set of management rulescomprise at least one rule based on a location at which the service isdelivered, the location selected from a plurality of locations.

Aspects of the medium include wherein the set of management rulescomprise at least one rule based on one or more of a user profile, avehicle profile, or service provider or station capabilities.

Aspects of the medium include wherein the set of service configurationinformation comprises one or more dynamic parameters related to one ormore of a current demand for the service, a current availability of theservice, or one or more factors adjusting the price of the service.

Aspects of the medium include wherein the set of user or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information comprises historicalinformation related to use of the vehicle or the service.

Aspects of the medium include wherein the service comprises a vehiclebattery charging service, a vehicle repair service, or a vehicle powersource replacement service.

Any one or more of the aspects/embodiments as substantially disclosedherein.

Any one or more of the aspects/embodiments as substantially disclosedherein optionally in combination with any one or more otheraspects/embodiments as substantially disclosed herein.

One or means adapted to perform any one or more of the aboveaspects/embodiments as substantially disclosed herein.

The phrases “at least one,” “one or more,” “or,” and “and/or” areopen-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive inoperation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, Band C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “oneor more of A, B, or C,” “A, B, and/or C,” and “A, B, or C” means Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, or A, B and C together.

The term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. Assuch, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can beused interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms“comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably.

The term “automatic” and variations thereof, as used herein, refers toany process or operation, which is typically continuous orsemi-continuous, done without material human input when the process oroperation is performed. However, a process or operation can beautomatic, even though performance of the process or operation usesmaterial or immaterial human input, if the input is received beforeperformance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to bematerial if such input influences how the process or operation will beperformed. Human input that consents to the performance of the processor operation is not deemed to be “material.”

Aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of an embodimentthat is entirely hardware, an embodiment that is entirely software(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” or “system.”Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signalmedium or a computer-readable storage medium.

A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer-readable storage medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or anysuitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document,a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain or store a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium thatis not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program codeembodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using anyappropriate medium, including, but not limited to, wireless, wireline,optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of theforegoing.

The terms “determine,” “calculate,” “compute,” and variations thereof,as used herein, are used interchangeably and include any type ofmethodology, process, mathematical operation or technique.

The term “electric vehicle” (EV), also referred to herein as an electricdrive vehicle, may use one or more electric motors or traction motorsfor propulsion. An electric vehicle may be powered through a collectorsystem by electricity from off-vehicle sources, or may be self-containedwith a battery or generator to convert fuel to electricity. An electricvehicle generally includes a rechargeable electricity storage system(RESS) (also called Full Electric Vehicles (FEV)). Power storage methodsmay include: chemical energy stored on the vehicle in on-board batteries(e.g., battery electric vehicle or BEV), on board kinetic energy storage(e.g., flywheels), and/or static energy (e.g., by on-board double-layercapacitors). Batteries, electric double-layer capacitors, and flywheelenergy storage may be forms of rechargeable on-board electrical storage.

The term “hybrid electric vehicle” refers to a vehicle that may combinea conventional (usually fossil fuel-powered) powertrain with some formof electric propulsion. Most hybrid electric vehicles combine aconventional internal combustion engine (ICE) propulsion system with anelectric propulsion system (hybrid vehicle drivetrain). In parallelhybrids, the ICE and the electric motor are both connected to themechanical transmission and can simultaneously transmit power to drivethe wheels, usually through a conventional transmission. In serieshybrids, only the electric motor drives the drivetrain, and a smallerICE works as a generator to power the electric motor or to recharge thebatteries. Power-split hybrids combine series and parallelcharacteristics. A full hybrid, sometimes also called a strong hybrid,is a vehicle that can run on just the engine, just the batteries, or acombination of both. A mid hybrid is a vehicle that cannot be drivensolely on its electric motor, because the electric motor does not haveenough power to propel the vehicle on its own.

The term “rechargeable electric vehicle” or “REV” refers to a vehiclewith on board rechargeable energy storage, including electric vehiclesand hybrid electric vehicles.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for managing services performed on avehicle, the method comprising: receiving, at a service provider systemand over a communications network, a request for maintenance of avehicle, wherein the service provider system is associated with avehicle power source replacement service and/or power source rechargingservice, wherein the vehicle is one or more of an electric vehicle,rechargeable electric vehicle, and hybrid-electric vehicle, wherein thevehicle comprises a rechargeable power storage comprising one or more ofbatteries, capacitors, accumulators, supercapacitors, ultrabatteries,and superconducting magnets, wherein the request received by the serviceprovider system is from an on-board diagnostic system on the vehicle orone or more servers of a third-party service provider system monitoringthe vehicle, and wherein the service is related to replacing and/orrecharging the rechargeable power storage; reading, by the serviceprovider system, a set of management rules from one or more databases,the set of management rules defining one or more of a type and locationof a selected service facility associated with the service providersystem for performing the service on the vehicle; reading, by theservice provider system, a set of pricing rules, the set of pricingrules defining a price to be charged by the selected service facility;reading, by the service provider system, a set of user and/or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information for the vehicle from one ormore databases, the user and/or vehicle specific maintenance and useinformation comprising one or more of a vehicle user preference for theservice, a descriptor of the rechargeable power storage, and a servicehistory of the vehicle; based on the set of management rules, set ofpricing rules, and set of user and/or vehicle specific maintenance anduse information, selecting, by the service provider system, a servicefacility, from among multiple service facilities associated with theservice provider system, for providing the service to the vehicle; andproviding, from the service provider system to the vehicle over thecommunications network, one or more instructions related to the selectedservice facility to provide the service to the vehicle, the instructionscomprising one or more of a price to be charged by the selected servicefacility for providing the service to the vehicle, a location of theselected service facility to provide the service to the vehicle, a timefor the service to be provided by the selected service facility to thevehicle, and what service is to be provided by the selected servicefacility.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: reading, bythe service provider system, a set of service configuration parameters,wherein a value of one or more service configuration parameters isvaried based on one or more of a current demand for the service at theselected service facility and a current availability of the service atthe selected service facility and wherein the set of management rulesand/or pricing rules comprise a variable that is a function of the oneor more service configuration parameters.
 23. The method of claim 21,wherein the set of management rules comprise at least one rule based onthe service facility location at which the service is to be delivered,the location being selected from a plurality of possible servicefacility locations and further comprising: assigning, by the serviceprovider system, a rank for each of the multiple service facilities,wherein the rank assigned to a service facility is determined by one ormore of the set of management rules, set of pricing rules, and set ofuser and/or vehicle specific maintenance and use information andindicates a suitability of the respective service facility to providethe service to the vehicle and wherein the selected service facility hasthe highest rank of the multiple service facilities.
 24. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the set of management rules comprise at least one rulebased on the type of service facility at which the service is to bedelivered, the type being selected from a plurality of service facilitytypes, wherein the plurality of service facility types comprises aplurality of an emergency charging vehicle system, aerial vehiclecharging system, roadway vehicle charging system, robotic vehiclecharging system, rechargeable power storage replacement system, andoverhead vehicle charging system.
 25. The method of claim 21, whereinthe set of management rules comprise at least one rule having as acondition a predetermined value of a parameter, the predetermined valuebeing based on selected information in one or more of a user profileassociated with an occupant of the vehicle, a vehicle profile of thevehicle, and a profile of the service provider system capabilities. 26.The method of claim 21, wherein the set of pricing rules comprise atleast one rule based on one or more of a current demand for the serviceat the selected service facility and a current availability of theservice at the selected service facility the service facility locationat which the service is to be delivered, the price for the selectedservice facility being selected from a plurality of possible servicefacility prices.
 27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:assigning, by the service provider system, a rank for each of themultiple service facilities, wherein the rank assigned to a servicefacility is determined by one or more of the set of management rules,set of pricing rules, and set of user and/or vehicle specificmaintenance and use information and indicates a suitability of therespective service facility to provide the service to the vehicle andwherein the selected service facility has the highest rank of themultiple service facilities, wherein the rank is based on one or more ofa current demand for the service at a respective service facility and acurrent availability of the service at a respective service facility.28. The method of claim 21, wherein the set of user or vehicle specificmaintenance and use information comprises historical information relatedto use of the vehicle or the service, wherein the service facility isselected based on a plurality of travel time from a current location ofthe vehicle to a respective service facility location, availability of acharging pad at the respective service facility location, a type ofservice offered by the respective service facility, a compatibility ofthe respective service facility with a type of the rechargeable powerstorage, a time required by the respective service facility to deliverthe service, and a current price of the service at the respectiveservice facility, and wherein multiple service facilities charge adifferent current prices for a common service.
 29. The method of claim21, wherein a frame of the vehicle comprises a slide, receptacle,cavity, and/protrusion to enable the rechargeable power storage to beremoved from the vehicle and replaced with a different rechargeablepower storage, wherein the rechargeable power storage comprises a firstdrive power source and a second driver power source, wherein the firstand second drive power sources are each independently operable from eachother, and wherein one of the first and second drive power sources isremovable from the vehicle without disabling the vehicle from operatingsolely from the other one of the first and second drive power sources.30. A service provider system comprising: a processor; and a memorycoupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set ofinstructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processorto manage services performed on a vehicle by: receiving, over acommunications network, a request for maintenance of the vehicle,wherein the service provider system is associated with a vehicle powersource replacement service and/or power source recharging service,wherein the vehicle is one or more of an electric vehicle, rechargeableelectric vehicle, and hybrid-electric vehicle, wherein the vehiclecomprises a rechargeable power storage comprising one or more ofbatteries, capacitors, accumulators, supercapacitors, ultrabatteries,and superconducting magnets, wherein the request received by the serviceprovider system is from an on-board diagnostic system on the vehicle orone or more servers of a third-party service provider system monitoringthe vehicle, and wherein the service is related to replacing and/orrecharging the rechargeable power storage; reading a set of managementrules from one or more databases, the set of management rules definingone or more of a type and location of a selected service facilityassociated with the service provider system for performing the serviceon the vehicle; reading a set of pricing rules, the set of pricing rulesdefining a price to be charged by the selected service facility; readinga set of user and/or vehicle specific maintenance and use informationfor the vehicle from one or more databases, the user and/or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information comprising one or more of avehicle user preference for the service, a descriptor of therechargeable power storage, and a service history of the vehicle; basedon the set of management rules, set of pricing rules, and set of userand/or vehicle specific maintenance and use information, selecting aservice facility, from among multiple service facilities associated withthe service provider system, for providing the service to the vehicle;and providing to the vehicle over the communications network, one ormore instructions related to the selected service facility to providethe service to the vehicle, the instructions comprising one or more of aprice to be charged by the selected service facility for providing theservice to the vehicle, a location of the selected service facility toprovide the service to the vehicle, a time for the service to beprovided by the selected service facility to the vehicle, and whatservice is to be provided by the selected service facility.
 31. Theservice provider system of claim 30, wherein the processor further readsa set of service configuration parameters, wherein a value of one ormore service configuration parameters is varied based on one or more ofa current demand for the service at the selected service facility and acurrent availability of the service at the selected service facility andwherein the set of management rules and/or pricing rules comprise avariable that is a function of the one or more service configurationparameters.
 32. The service provider system of claim 30, wherein the setof management rules comprise at least one rule based on the servicefacility location at which the service is to be delivered, the locationbeing selected from a plurality of possible service facility locationsand wherein the processor further assigns a rank for each of themultiple service facilities, wherein the rank assigned to a servicefacility is determined by one or more of the set of management rules,set of pricing rules, and set of user and/or vehicle specificmaintenance and use information and indicates a suitability of therespective service facility to provide the service to the vehicle andwherein the selected service facility has the highest rank of themultiple service facilities.
 33. The service provider system of claim30, wherein the set of management rules comprise at least one rule basedon the type of service facility at which the service is to be delivered,the type being selected from a plurality of service facility types,wherein the plurality of service facility types comprises a plurality ofan emergency charging vehicle system, aerial vehicle charging system,roadway vehicle charging system, robotic vehicle charging system,rechargeable power storage replacement system, and overhead vehiclecharging system.
 34. The service provider system of claim 30, whereinthe set of management rules comprise at least one rule having as acondition a predetermined value of a parameter, the predetermined valuebeing based on selected information in one or more of a user profileassociated with an occupant of the vehicle, a vehicle profile of thevehicle, and a profile of the service provider system capabilities. 35.The service provider system of claim 30, wherein the set of pricingrules comprise at least one rule based on one or more of a currentdemand for the service at the selected service facility and a currentavailability of the service at the selected service facility the servicefacility location at which the service is to be delivered, the price forthe selected service facility being selected from a plurality ofpossible service facility prices.
 36. The service provider system ofclaim 30, wherein the processor further assigns a rank for each of themultiple service facilities, wherein the rank assigned to a servicefacility is determined by one or more of the set of management rules,set of pricing rules, and set of user and/or vehicle specificmaintenance and use information and indicates a suitability of therespective service facility to provide the service to the vehicle andwherein the selected service facility has the highest rank of themultiple service facilities, wherein the rank is based on one or more ofa current demand for the service at a respective service facility and acurrent availability of the service at a respective service facility.37. The service provider system of claim 30, wherein the set of user orvehicle specific maintenance and use information comprises historicalinformation related to use of the vehicle or the service, wherein theservice facility is selected based on a plurality of travel time from acurrent location of the vehicle to a respective service facilitylocation, availability of a charging pad at the respective servicefacility location, a type of service offered by the respective servicefacility, a compatibility of the respective service facility with a typeof the rechargeable power storage, a time required by the respectiveservice facility to deliver the service, and a current price of theservice at the respective service facility, and wherein multiple servicefacilities charge a different current prices for a common service. 38.The service provider system of claim 30, wherein a frame of the vehiclecomprises a slide, receptacle, cavity, and/protrusion to enable therechargeable power storage to be removed from the vehicle and replacedwith a different rechargeable power storage, wherein the rechargeablepower storage comprises a first drive power source and a second driverpower source, wherein the first and second drive power sources are eachindependently operable from each other, and wherein one of the first andsecond drive power sources is removable from the vehicle withoutdisabling the vehicle from operating solely from the other one of thefirst and second drive power sources.
 39. A service provider systemcomprising: a processor; and a memory coupled with and readable by theprocessor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executedby the processor, cause the processor to manage services performed on avehicle by: receiving, over a communications network, a request formaintenance of the vehicle, wherein the service provider system isassociated with a vehicle power source replacement service and/or powersource recharging service, wherein the vehicle is one or more of anelectric vehicle, rechargeable electric vehicle, and hybrid-electricvehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a rechargeable power storagecomprising one or more of batteries, capacitors, accumulators,supercapacitors, ultrabatteries, and superconducting magnets, whereinthe request received by the service provider system is from an on-boarddiagnostic system on the vehicle or one or more servers of a third-partyservice provider system monitoring the vehicle, and wherein the serviceis related to replacing and/or recharging the rechargeable powerstorage; reading a set of management rules from one or more databases,the set of management rules defining one or more of a type and locationof a selected service facility associated with the service providersystem for performing the service on the vehicle; reading a set ofpricing rules, the set of pricing rules defining a price to be chargedby the selected service facility; reading a set of user and/or vehiclespecific maintenance and use information for the vehicle from one ormore databases, the user and/or vehicle specific maintenance and useinformation comprising one or more of a vehicle user preference for theservice, a descriptor of the rechargeable power storage, and a servicehistory of the vehicle; based on the set of management rules, set ofpricing rules, and set of user and/or vehicle specific maintenance anduse information, assigning a rank for each of the multiple servicefacilities, wherein the rank indicates a suitability of the respectiveservice facility to provide the service to the vehicle; selecting aservice facility, from among multiple service facilities associated withthe service provider system, for providing the service to the vehicle,the selected service facility having the highest rank of the multipleservice facilities; and providing to the vehicle over the communicationsnetwork, one or more instructions related to the selected servicefacility to provide the service to the vehicle, the instructionscomprising one or more of a price to be charged by the selected servicefacility for providing the service to the vehicle, a location of theselected service facility to provide the service to the vehicle, a timefor the service to be provided by the selected service facility to thevehicle, and what service is to be provided by the selected servicefacility.
 40. The service provider system of claim 39, wherein the setof management rules comprise at least one rule based on the type ofservice facility at which the service is to be delivered, the type beingselected from a plurality of service facility types, wherein theplurality of service facility types comprises a plurality of anemergency charging vehicle system, aerial vehicle charging system,roadway vehicle charging system, robotic vehicle charging system,rechargeable power storage replacement system, and overhead vehiclecharging system.